Omnidirectional Treadmill / Virtual Reality Floor Update

An improvement to my previous design. This is to demonstrate the concept of an omnidirectional treadmill for use with virtual and augmented reality.

I claim no rights or reservations towards any of the concepts used in this design, or towards the design as a whole.

That being said, if you build one, please let me know as i'd love to take it for a spin.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• omnidirectional
• treadmill
• vr
• virtual
• reality
• ar
• augmented
• gaming
• game
• peripheral
• cyberwalk
• cyberfloor
• holodeck
• cyber

[Leopoldo888]

Maybe you can add it movement capture to "fine tune" some issues that I'm sure you have already notice...

[tieguyny]

@Leopoldo888

I think the best option would be to use the microsoft connect. That could watch you and allow you to control all your avatar's appendages in game.

[tonycatman]

Issue 1 : How does the drive wheel work ? i.e. what physical mechanism allows it to maintain the right level of contact with the 'bag' and till overcome the friction.

Issue 2 : What material might possibly work for the 'bag' ?

Issue 3 : The load bearings - how would they measure or react to someone running, when they leave the ground ?

[tieguyny]

@tonycatman Good questions. This video is simply a demonstration of the main components of the device and the particulars of each element would have to be developed tailored to fulfill their purpose. Regarding issue 3, that could be handled in software (easing in and out, averaging, etc.) As far as the other issues, remember we live in a time of extraordinary materials developed to accomplish amazing things. It would only be a matter of investigation to find one to work in this application.

[rockstarajw]

I don't mean grass or something complicated like that, but rock structure or something.

[tieguyny]

@rockstarajw

That would introduce some challenges, such as how to power moving parts inside the drum since it is isolated by the moving outer surface, deforming the moving surface and causing tripping, making it able to stretch, etc. Just more technical hurdles to overcome when I'd still like to see just the basic elements in this video come together in a practical way.

[roksr4k4]

this "bag" would only work if the metal drum was a sphere...but to make the surface level enough to walk on, this sphere would have to be huge! o.0 also it would not be easy to "have control" over this drum, since it has no contact points with the rest of the machine and is completely surrounded with this "bag"...

still a very innovative design and a proof of a creative mind :D keep up the good work...

[BenTheMagnifice]

I dont this is "pancake" bag will work.

[0LoneTech]

I was thinking the bag design would lead to slack (or you could make it elastic, but get the same issues). Thinking of how to do it I was led to a double layer treadmill system, and two videos later I found that has been built in video moq1Dclza90

[Wizdish]

I love the design and hope you get it working. You might like to see another design that achieves the same result without moving parts search for WIZDISH. All contributions like yours are valid and useful. Well done.

[elliotnicklin]

Drive wheel takes over and you could get stuck on it forever

[smokysmoka]

I already thought about this 10 years ago .. but does not work: the membrane must be spherical, and therefore the center where you will be relaxed while walking on the sides where the membrane will be very tight curve ... This creates an effect that does not allow you to obtain a normal walking .. more when you run the accelerating tapeeroullant should follow along with you as regular exercise machines, if not, is not natural and very tiring .. reconsiders well ...

[lucidskies]

This is fucking epic. I will be following this as I want to be involved in it.

[Soluraz]

Perfect. Now imitate falling. Having the entire tread rise as the incline is increased to a certain maximum - presumably before injury to imitate falls, it must be able to fall in relation to virtual "ground" within world situations where you fall.